Water Damage Woes

Summer in Houston means three things—it’s hot, it’s humid, and it’s hurricane season. There is no getting around the fact that our fair city has to deal with an awful lot of moisture; it comes with the weather, which comes with the territory.

Water damage can wreak havoc on a home, as the recent storms in Houston have shown us. The days following a major storm can be chaotic; we see an uptick in unscrupulous contractors at a time when assessing flood damage can be complicated, especially when trained professionals are in short supply. This week we’ll give you some tips to help you assess and address water damage, and a few resources to keep handy ‘just in case’.

There are three primary ways water can damage your home—leaks, flooding, and a burst pipe. If the pipe that bursts is a sewage pipe, do not pass go, do not collect any money, just call your plumber and your contractor! A burst sewer pipe isn’t just about damage control, it’s about controlling contamination.

We have already discussed some of the issues associated with protecting against flood damage, but in the event flooding does occur you will want to start cleanup as soon as possible, and when it is safe to do so. Disconnect electronics, pull up carpeting, empty cabinets and drawers, and then start getting rid of the water; even if you can’t get it all yourself, start removing water as soon as you can. Then open windows and start fans (if you have power) and begin the dry-out process, and then call your contractor to get started on an estimate of damages and necessary repairs. Remember, damage that results from flooding is not covered under your homeowners insurance, so you should consider flood insurance.

Finally, a leaky roof—which is covered under your homeowners policy—can also cause damage during a major storm. Do your best to mitigate the leak and the water damage, and get a contractor over as soon as possible to find the source(s) of the leak(s) and begin repairs.

Visit the blog next week to learn about storm protection for renters and homeowners. We invite you to stay connected with Cabinets & Designs every day on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Houzz!